What is “CertEX” and how does the system work?
In NL/EU day‑to‑day practice, people often use “CertEX” as an umbrella term for the digital certificates/official controls workflow around (pre‑)notification and border controls. The core is:
- TRACES NT is the EU system where consignments that fall under SPS/official controls are notified using a CHED:
- CHED-P (plants/plant products),
- CHED-A (animals),
- CHED-PP (products of animal origin / POAO),
- CHED-D (certain goods / food & feed of non‑animal origin, depending on the regime).
- In the Netherlands this is commonly referred to as “GGB” (Gemeenschappelijk Gezondheidsdocument bij Binnenkomst) — in practice the Dutch naming/handling of the CHED workflow.
Process at a glance (end‑to‑end):
- Scope check: does the commodity/consignment fall under EU “official controls” (phytosanitary, veterinary, high‑risk FNAO, etc.)?
- Pre‑notification: importer/agent creates a CHED/GGB in TRACES NT and attaches:
- consignment details (origin, destination, HS/commodity code, quantities, packaging),
- documents (certificates, analyses, attestations),
- logistics (BIP/BCP, ETA, container/vessel/flight data).
- Arrival & controls by NVWA/BCP:
- documentary check,
- identity check,
- (where applicable) physical check / sampling.
- Decision: release / release with conditions / rejection / redirection / destruction / re‑export.
- Downstream effect: release is often a prerequisite for customs clearance and onward movement.
Important: a CHED/GGB is consignment‑based, not “product‑based”. You can’t use one CHED indefinitely for multiple physical shipments.